Steve Gaer for Mayor - West Des Moines, IA

CANDIDATE FOR MAYOR

(continued from homepage) ... I followed those principles during the 8 years I served as a West Des Moines City Council member

(1996-2003) and during the last 2 years as your Mayor (2007-2009), which were some of the most important years in West Des

Moines' history from the standpoint of city government and growth. For example, during my years on the City Council, the City

completed and opened its new library, renovated Holiday Park pool, skateboard park at Legion Park, built the new City Hall, worked

with General Growth Properties regarding Jordan Creek Town Center, worked with Wells Fargo regarding its new 900,000 square

foot office campus and hired a new City Manager, Police Chief, City Attorney, Director of Human Resources, Director of Human

Services and Director of Public Works. These are just a few of the major accomplishments of the City during my time on the City

Council. In Addition, during my 2 years as your Mayor, Business Week named West Des Moines as one of its Top 10 Affordable

suburbs in 2009, West Des Moines holds a AAA bond rating (one of only 127 cities nationwide), Major corporations including

Microsoft and AVIVA have chosen to build in West Des Moines, building permits of over $490 million were issued in 2008

(higher than at any point in the city's 116 year history), the 2009-10 city budget has high operating reserve balances, reductions in

controllable expenses and NO increase in property taxes, one of only four cities to have all three public safety departments (police,

fire and EMS) nationally accredited. While West Des Moines has been blessed with tremendous growth, I believe we have managed

that growth smartly. We have balanced citizen's needs for new amenities, built the necessary infrastructure to encourage and keep up

with growth, expand park and recreation opportunities, and managed to deliver top notch city services to our residents and

businesses. In Addition for the benefit of all taxpayers, all this was accomplished while holding the line on property taxes.

Living in West Des Moines for the past 46 years along with my work experience and public service on the City Council and as Mayor

provides the necessary background and experience to draw on in order to serve you best as your Mayor for the next four years. We all

have a big investment in our City and I pledge to do all that I can to ensure that we get the most out of our investment.

The City's future continues to be bright and I would be honored to continue to serve as your Mayor. As your Mayor I will continue to

serve you with honesty, integrity and dedication.

FAMILY

46 year resident of West Des Moines

Married 25 years to Sally (children: Jacob 21 and Margaret 19)

Father of Jacob - 2009 Graduate of University of Iowa (Third generation

graduate of Valley High School)

Father of Margaret - Senior at Valley High School

Attending Lutheran Church of Hope

SCHOLAR

Second generation Graduate of Valley High School (1979)

State of Iowa Scholar

President of the National Honor Society (1978-79)

American Citizenship Award

Member of two State golf championship teams

Chair of the Valley High School Alumni Association (1989-90)

B.A. from the University of Kentucky (1983) with high distinction

JD from Drake University Law School (1986) with honors

Article published in 38 Drake Law Review 261 (1988-89)

CIVIC LEADER

West Des Moines Mayor (April 2007 to Present)

WDM City Council member At Large (1996-2003)

Mayor Pro Tem (1998-99)

West Des Moines Community Schools Foundation for Educational Excellence

Trustee (1989-94)

Vice-Chair (1989-90)

Chair (1990-91)

West Des Moines Capital Improvement Committee (2005-07)

West Des Moines Development Corporation (Officer)

West Des Moines Little League (Player and Parent Volunteer)

Variety Club (Volunteer)

Member of Advisory Commission on Childhood Vaccines (1999-2001)

Polk County Redistricting Committee (2001)

Great Des Moines Partnership (Executive Committee and Board of Directors)

Choose Des Moines Communities (Board of Directors)

Des Moines Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (West Des Moines representative on the Board)

Member of year 2000 Class of “Forty Under 40" (Future Business

Leaders of Central Iowa as recognized by the Business Record)

Given a “Key to the City” in 2003 by Mayor Gene Meyer

BUSINESS LEADER

Chief Operating Officer and General Counsel- R&R Realty Group

(2004 to present)

Vice President/Associate General Counsel and promoted to Managing

Director - Kirke-Van Orsdel/Marsh, Inc. (1994-2004)

Attorney with Ahlers & Cooney Law Firm (1986-1994)